
Watching the Academy Awards with friends is always more fun than a viewing party for one, whether you’re a film buff who saw all the Best Picture contenders on opening day or a fashion obsessive already dying over Cate Blanchett’s dress on the red carpet. But the idea of throwing a party on a Sunday night can seem a bit daunting, we know! To help ease the stress, we’ve put together a list of eight entertaining essentials that will make your Oscar party prep as effortless as Eddie Redmayne’s performance in The Danish Girl. Now the only thing you have to worry about is if Leo is finally going to get that Lead Actor win.
1. Acme Party Box Co. Gold Cocktail Shaker ($54): Award your bar cart a gold statue of its own with this chromed-out cocktail shaker. It’ll help you whip up cocktails quickly and chicly — plus, it’ll serve as serious eye candy when you’re not using it.
2. White Whale Your Older Brother Vodka Mixer ($11): Speaking of cocktails, this vodka mixer is packed with seasonal flavors of fir and citrus. Add ice, vodka and a splash of sparkling lemonade for a drink that’ll keep your guests happily buzzed through even the longest speeches.
3. The Flair Exchange Confetti Filled Balloon ($5): Get that celebratory feeling confetti always gives you — without the messy aftermath — with a bunch of these confetti-filled balloons tied to your bar cart or kitchen chairs. Plus, the black, gold and white color scheme is the perfect complement to the glam Oscar vibe.
4. Miss Jones Baking Co. Organic Cake + Brownie Mix ($30): While we’d happily eat potatoes every single day if it meant being stuck on a deserted planet with Matt Damon, we don’t recommend the same spuds for an Oscars party menu. These sweets mixes are yummy, organic and super easy to throw together.
Mosser Glass 10″ Jade Cake Plate
Made by Brit + Co Cheese Board Kit by DESIGN*SPONGE
The Flair Exchange Tassel Garland Kit
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.